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How to Make Hematite Irridescent

Hematite is a reddish-brown metallic mineral with chemical formula Fe2O3. Some examples of hematite are renowned for exhibiting strikingly beautiful iridescence--when an apparently monochromatic surface produces a whole rainbow of colors depending on viewing angle. As the iridescence of hematite varies greatly, your best option for owning iridescent hematite is generally to procure a sample that is naturally iridescent--such as rainbow hematite--rather than attempt to force iridescence in a stone that is not naturally inclined to it. Nevertheless, iridescence is a form of tarnish, so you can take steps to bring out the maximum potential iridescence of your sample.

Things You'll Need

Hematite
Plastic bag
Liver of sulfur

Instructions

- 1
  Apply a thin coating of liver of sulfur to your hematite. Liver of sulfur is a sulfurous solution used to induce tarnishing in metals. It can be found in most art supply stores, often marketed as a brass duller.
- 2
  Place the hematite in a plastic bag and seal. The oxidization reactions at work in many types of tarnishing require sulfur as a catalyst. Liver of sulfur enables tarnishing to proceed at a much faster rate than it normally would by providing a sulfurous environment favorable for tarnishing.
- 3
  Leave the hematite to sit in a warm location for 24 hours.
- 4
  Remove the hematite from the bag. Gently wipe the liver of sulfur off the hematite, taking care not to wipe off any iridescent tarnish that may have formed underneath.
- 5
  Hold your hematite under a light. If your species is capable of iridescence, it should now appear.

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